Louis van Gaal has confirmed his 26-man Netherlands squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Latvia and Gibraltar.
- Follow Football-Oranje on Twitter
Netherlands are now top of the qualifying group and will look to take a step towards the World Cup next year with wins over Latvia (8th of October) and Gibraltar (11th of October).
Louis van Gaal has named his 26-man squad with Club Brugge winger Noa Lang and Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken earning their first call-ups.
Van Gaal has decided to name four goalkeepers in his squad, while Luuk de Jong returns. Ajax right-back Devyne Rensch and Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Bergwijn are the two names dropping out from the provisional squad.
The full squad can be seen below.
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
Krul is to motivate and pass the rope to the next gen Oranje GK. Luuk de jong is for ?
Whilst I am pleased with Louis at the helm and the positive direction we are moving in so far, there are still a few elements of the squad I do not understand.
1. Luuk de Jong, I genuinely don’t know what he has to other. I watched him for years struggle at international/top level standard and for me he has never made the cut. His recent Champions League performance was of a man who was out of his depth. I know Barca were poor, but Luuk de Jong was spectacularly awful.
2. De Roon. Similar to Luuk de Jong, I don’t understand what he offers with the style of play Holland are trying to aspire too. I understand that he is meant to be the defensive block in midfield, but I have never seen him bring these qualities and look comfortable in an Oranje shirt. If I performed like he or Luuk de Jong have done on multiple conversations in my current job I think that I would have told “thank you for your services but its time to part ways” by now.
3. Danjuma. OK, Lang is in the team (great). Fair enough you can’t put 100 newbies into the team all at once. However, with no disrespect to Gibraltar and Latavia, could he at least made the camp to get some experience (in place of the 4th Goalkeeper)? If not yet I hope the he is genuinely under Louis’ radar for future call-ups.
4. Weghorst, not convinced either. On top of that, Luuk de Jong and Weghorst offer similar qualities. Who does it better, up for debate, but I guess by the rationale I gave for not including Luuk de Jong (tried and tested), Weghorst gets the nod. But you certainly don’t need both in my opinion.
5. Lang…. great news. Enough said.
6. Why do we need 4 goalkeepers? Surely, this was a chance to take another outfield option or have I missed something.
7. Flekken, I won’t pass judgement as I have not seen much of him play. Happy to see a new face, and wish him the best.
Overall, I am happy with this team, a good offering of youth. I hope that Zirkee and Danjuma (especially Danjuma) are close to a call up. And I hope that Louis goes the distance and culls deadweights like De Roon and Luuk de Jong sooner rather than later.
You can’t question LVG much after the performances last month, but how on earth Luuk de Jong is in the side over is beyond me. They already have Memphis, Weghorst AND Malen as #9s, so why do you need a 4th player in that position? LDJ is very limited and, unlike Weghorst (who can fill the exact same role), is in terrible form and confidence.
De Jong’s place should have gone to Danjuma imo, who’s been playing great. Especially considering LVG’s comments last month about being “thin” at winger positions.
You just need 23 players not 26
And why 4 goalkeeper?
OUT: Krul, Ake, Luuk De Jong, Malen, De Roon & Wijnaldum
IN: DANJUMA & Joey Veerman
Krul: Krul is in a slump, he has conceded 16 goals in 6 matches in the Premier League. In addition to Bijlow & Flekken, I will choose Paes from Utrecht or Pasveer who appear more stable and confident.
Ake: Ake’s presence is not really needed because to fill the 2 places at centre-back there are already Van Dijk, De Vrij, Timber & De Ligt whose performances are better
Luuk De Jong: This player is no longer unable to compete and unfit to appear with the Oranje. For the striker position, Weghorst and Depay are already there. It’s even overloaded because of the addition of Donyell Malen
Malen: to fill 1 place in the striker position, Malen’s presence is no longer needed because there is already a regular striker of Oranje (Memphis Depay) and 20 goals scorer last season in the Bundesliga who has scored 3 goals this season, Wout Weghorst. It’s better if Louis Van Gaal gives a chance to play for the rising player Arnaut Danjuma who scored 15 goals pure last season with Bournemouth & 3 goals this season with Villareal. Danjuma’s quality has also improved as he performed well against Atalanta, Real Madrid & Manchester United
De Roon: de roon did appear regularly with Atalanta, but De Roon’s style of play did not match the Oranje’s playing style. De Roon’s performances in the Oranje midfield in 4 European Cup matches became a weak point because this player lacked creativity and vision in midfield. After all, against weak opponents like Latvia and Gibraltar the presence of a defensive midfielder like De Roon is not necessary. Better to give these precious minutes to Joey Veerman, a creative central midfielder who has acceleration and can provide several assists that De Boer’s main midfield trio at the European Cup has lacked: De Roon, Gini & Frenkie
Wijnaldum: Wijnaldum will not play in the match against Latvia due to card accumulation. The presence of the player who will turn 31 this November is also not required in the home game against weak side Gibraltar. Wijnaldum’s performance continued to decline at his club PSG and at the World Cup next year he became 32 years old. Better those precious minutes went to Teun Koopmeiners and Joey Veerman, two 23-year-old midfielders who will continue to grow and add more color to the game in midfield.
Danjuma would have been great to see in the squad. Karsdorp, too. I like the addition of Flekken, but four keepers seems odd to me. Wijndal, but I don’t think Malacia and Wijndal will be used together until Blind is done with the National Team. Hopefully, Joey Veerman can get a transfer to a bigger club this winter and get his chance over de Roon.
Where’s Rensch?
Many matches, luk dijng in total waste in team, same as de roon, now the new cop all last previous matches young and fit for all position this pls continue